Cement import increase leads to Dangote plant closure

According to local media, Dangote Cement has temporarily suspended operations at its 4 million tpa Gboko cement plant in central Nigeria. The shutdown, which has led to staff being asked to take compulsory leave, has been attributed to the increase in cheap imported cement in the region. The oversupply caused by cement imports has been exacerbated by a rise in local production levels. It is not yet known when the plant will reopen.

Dangote has predicted that its annual profit will reach US$932.6 million in 2012 with a forecast cement output of 21.5 million t. The African cement manufacturer plans to increase its production capacity to 60 million tpa by 2014.

Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/06122012/cement_dangote_gboko_nigeria_plant_779/